to un ##ila ##tera ##lly declare independence from the united kingdom on 11 november 1965 . the idea of " no independence before majority rule " had recently gained ground in britain and elsewhere amid deco ##lon ##isation , and rhodesia ' s government was dominated by the country ' s white minority , so the un ##ila ##tera ##l declaration went un ##re ##co ##gni ##sed internationally . britain and the united nations imposed economic sanctions on rhodesia . two rival communist @ - @ backed black nationalist groups initiated military campaigns to overthrow the government and introduce majority rule : the chinese @ - @ aligned zimbabwe african national union ( za ##nu ) , mostly comprising sho ##nas , created the zimbabwe african national liberation
to unilaterally declare independence from the united kingdom on 11 november 1965. the idea of " no independence before majority rule " had recently gained ground in britain and elsewhere amid decolonisation, and rhodesia's government was dominated by the country's white minority, so the unilateral declaration went unrecognised internationally. britain and the united nations imposed economic sanctions on rhodesia. two rival communist @ - @ backed black nationalist groups initiated military campaigns to overthrow the government and introduce majority rule : the chinese @ - @ aligned zimbabwe african national union ( zanu ), mostly comprising shonas, created the zimbabwe african national liberation